INSPIRATIONJim Gilcreast read a passage from the writings of Rabbi Ismar Schorsch emphasizing the common aspects of the overlapping Christian holiday of Easter with the Jewish holiday of Passover: in both holidays there is a common theme of nature and history converging with a message of hope and renewal.

ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.Important Reminder: Next week’s meeting – Monday, April 16, the Million Dollar Meal – will be held at the Johnson & Wales Harbor View Building, 1150 Narragansett Blvd., Cranston. Click here for a map. J&W is covering all costs, allowing everything we pay to go to The Rotary Foundation. As a courtesy to our hosts at J&W, please email Rob Black (blackdamp73@gmail.com) no later than Monday morning, April 9, to say if you will or will not be there.

Two new members were inducted into the club, a mother and daughter both named Connie Donnelly, sponsored by Anthony Hollingshead. They are the first members to be inducted under the Family Membership plan.

Holly Applegate advised Rotary night at the Barker Playhouse will be held on Thursday May 10th. The play is "The Mystery Of Edwin Drood".The Club has bought 50 tickets. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 and the play will begin at 7:30.

Paul Segal advised that there are a few tickets left for the Boston Pops trip on the evening of Thursday May 17th.The concert will feature music of Leonard Bernstein.

Bob Murphy advised the annual fishing trip with the San Miguel students will be held on Saturday June 2nd. The DEM facility at Richmond has been reserved and the bus will leave the Marriott at 8:30 AM to pick up the students and will return by 2:30 PM.

Trish Cirelli reminded members to bring peanut butter to the April meetings which she will distribute to Amos House and Crossroads RI.

Last week club members read books to students at the Kizirian elementary school. More readings will be conducted later in April.

The Multi District Conference will be held at Plymouth Mass. May 18 - 20.

HAPPY BUCKSPete Brock - best wishes to Christian and Jewish communities for Easter and Passover holidays;

Jim Gilcreast - recent trip to Florida and Georgia;

Kris David - had great time reading to Kizarian School children dressed in otter costume;

George Burman - thanks to club member Sharon Garland for assistance to friend of his relocating to St. Elizabeth Manor.

Contrary View: Rhode Island is a
GOOD place to start a business!Guest speaker Pat Sabatino, founder and CEO of Datarista, a Providence based firm based providing cloud based data platform services and president of the newly formed Rhode Island Coalition of Entrepreneurs told us why he believes Rhode Island is a good place to start a business.

He said Rhode Island has more high tech startups functioning than many would think because of its proximity to universities providing a good recruiting base and because of favorable lifestyle aspects of the state. Although the pool of venture capital in RI is limited, his firm and others have raised substantial capital from out of state sources and have increased capital investment from in state.

A Providence College alumnus, Mr. Sabatino was employed in the data field for over 20 years in New York, California and Florida. He relocated to Rhode Island in 2003 to be involved in startups and in 2013 founded Datarista.